The News cited a report in a database of firefighter complaints called Safenet, a 4-year-old record. It was developed to give firefighters a venue to air problems.
The report on the Hayman fire, the biggest in Colorado history, said, ``The crew boss and at least one squad boss were using drugs everyday, and the crew was lazy,'' the report filed July 2, 2002 said. The crew members had to bribe an official to pass a fitness test.
The report was one of three in the database alleging abuse of alcohol or drugs.
``As long has there have been crews out on fires, those have been issues. We have a zero tolerance policy. If we find out it's happening, you try to take care of it,'' said John Gould, a fire and aviation specialist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Boise, Idaho.
Firefighters have filed 442 reports through Safenet since the system was created in April of 2000.
The report on the Hayman drug use said the firefighter who reported the drug use talked with officials from the crew taking drugs but he said he could do nothing. A follow up report in Safenet said the drug use should have been reported to higher authorities, such as the incident commander.
The reports also include much more mundane maters such as dirty portable toilets.
``I have a moderately strong stomach, but I got sick one morning after I entered a 'john' that was overripe. I had to abandon the mission,'' said one firefighter.
A third of the reports dealt with poor communications, including an incident in which air tankers put firefighters on the ground in danger. Firefighters headed to a Durango fire were given directions that sent them 400 miles out of their way.
